I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9131 

To authorize a national program to reduce the threat to human health 

posed by exposure to indoor air contaminants, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 25, 2024 

Mr. TONKO (for himself and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To authorize a national program to reduce the threat to 

human health posed by exposure to indoor air contaminants, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Indoor Air Quality and 

5 Healthy Schools Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis9 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ10 mental Protection Agency. 


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1 (2) COVERED CHILDCARE FACILITY.—The term 

2 ‘‘covered childcare facility’’ means a facility used by 

3 an early childhood education program. 

4 (3) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PRO5 GRAM.—The term ‘‘early childhood education pro6 gram’’ has the meaning given to that term in section 

7 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

8 U.S.C. 1003). 

9 (4) INDOOR.—The term ‘‘indoor’’ means the 

10 enclosed portions of buildings, including nonindus11 trial workplaces, public buildings, Federal buildings, 

12 schools, childcare facilities, commercial buildings, 

13 and residences. 

14 (5) INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANT.—The term ‘‘in15 door air contaminant’’ means any solid, liquid, semi16 solid, dissolved solid, biogenic agent, aerosol, or gas17 eous material, including combinations or mixtures of 

18 substances, in indoor air which may reasonably be 

19 anticipated to have an adverse effect on human 

20 health. 

21 (6) INDOOR CONTAMINANT OF CONCERN.—The 

22 term ‘‘indoor contaminant of concern’’ means an in23 door air contaminant that— 

24 (A) is among the most commonly occurring 

25 and poses a risk to human health; or 


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1 (B) is less commonly occurring and poses 

2 a significant risk to human health. 

3 (7) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 

4 ‘‘local educational agency’’ means— 

5 (A) a local educational agency (as defined 

6 in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec7 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

8 7801)); or 

9 (B) a Tribal education agency (as the term 

10 ‘‘tribal education agency’’ is defined in section 

11 3 of the National Environmental Education Act 

12 (20 U.S.C. 5502)). 

13 (8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes each of 

14 the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 

15 Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 

16 and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is17 lands. 

18 SEC. 3. INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROGRAM. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall carry out 

20 a program to support the assessment, reduction, and 

21 avoidance of exposure to indoor air contaminants to re22 duce risks to human health. 

23 (b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—In carrying out the program 

24 under subsection (a), the Administrator shall support the 

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1 door air contaminants to reduce risks to human health, 

2 including by— 

3 (1) carrying out research, development, and 

4 demonstration activities pursuant to the Radon Gas 

5 and Indoor Air Quality Research Act of 1986 (42 

6 U.S.C. 7401 note); 

7 (2) listing indoor contaminants of concern, and 

8 developing guidelines for such indoor contaminants 

9 of concern, under section 4; 

10 (3) providing training, education, outreach, and 

11 technical assistance to eliminate or reduce indoor air 

12 contaminants, including by effective source control, 

13 ventilation, and filtration practices; 

14 (4) carrying out or recognizing voluntary cer15 tifications to identify and promote buildings that are 

16 most effective at improving indoor air quality under 

17 section 7; 

18 (5) supporting efforts to improve indoor air 

19 quality in buildings used by local educational agen20 cies and covered childcare facilities under section 8; 

21 (6) ensuring effective consultation and coordi22 nation among Federal agencies in carrying out pro23 grams related to indoor air quality, including the 

24 Department of Labor, the Department of Energy, 

25 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 


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1 Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

2 the Department of Health and Human Services, the 

3 Department of Education, the Department of De4 fense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

5 the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and 

6 other appropriate agencies carrying out programs re7 lated to indoor air quality; 

8 (7) supporting State, local, and Tribal govern9 ments, local educational agencies, housing authori10 ties, and other entities to develop and implement in11 door air quality management strategies, educational 

12 campaigns, assessments, guidelines, standards, and 

13 response programs; 

14 (8) providing information, guidance, and assist15 ance to the public, including building owners and oc16 cupants, on— 

17 (A) health-related risks of exposure to in18 door air contaminants; and 

19 (B) effective measures and programs for 

20 reducing or avoiding exposure to indoor air con21 taminants; 

22 (9) supporting development and adoption of 

23 standardized methods, techniques, and protocols for 

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1 termine the presence and concentrations of indoor 

2 air contaminants; 

3 (10) supporting development and adoption of 

4 control technologies, building design criteria, and 

5 management practices to prevent the entrance of 

6 contaminants into buildings and to reduce or miti7 gate emissions from indoor sources; 

8 (11) assessing the effectiveness of methods, 

9 techniques, protocols, response plans, products, and 

10 technologies to reduce or avoid exposure to indoor 

11 air contaminants; 

12 (12) supporting the development and adoption 

13 of model provisions, to be incorporated into building 

14 codes for various types of buildings, designed to im15 prove indoor air quality while taking into account 

16 comfort, safety, and energy conservation goals; 

17 (13) supporting development and adoption of 

18 control technologies, building design criteria, and 

19 management practices to improve indoor air quality 

20 and building resilience against the impacts of more 

21 frequent extreme weather events and other con22 sequences of climate change; and 

23 (14) ensuring consideration of disadvantaged 

24 communities and individuals in carrying out the pro25 gram authorized under subsection (a), including by 


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1 providing access to financial assistance, technical as2 sistance, and other offerings developed pursuant to 

3 this Act for all people regardless of income, race, 

4 color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability. 

5 SEC. 4. GUIDELINES FOR INDOOR CONTAMINANTS OF CON6 CERN. 

7 (a) LIST.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es9 tablish and maintain a list of indoor contaminants of 

10 concern. 

11 (2) CONTENTS.—The list under paragraph (1) 

12 may— 

13 (A) include combinations or mixtures of 

14 contaminants; and 

15 (B) refer to such combinations or mixtures 

16 by a common name. 

17 (3) INITIAL LIST.—Not later than 5 years after 

18 the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 

19 shall establish the initial list under paragraph (1). 

20 (b) MINIMUM CONTAMINANTS ON INITIAL LIST.—At 

21 a minimum, the initial list established under subsection 

22 (a) shall include— 

23 (1) particulate matter; 

24 (2) carbon monoxide; 

25 (3) nitrogen dioxide; 


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1 (4) ozone; 

2 (5) formaldehyde; and 

3 (6) radon. 

4 (c) INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 

6 publish science-based, voluntary guidelines for each 

7 indoor contaminant of concern listed under sub8 section (a). 

9 (2) GUIDELINE COMPONENTS.—A guideline 

10 published under this subsection shall— 

11 (A) include information and a range of rec12 ommendations for operation and maintenance 

13 of existing buildings, the design and construc14 tion of new buildings, building renovation, and 

15 such other activities as are necessary to iden16 tify, and reduce or prevent exposure to, the in17 door contaminant of concern listed under sub18 section (a); 

19 (B) be designed to achieve significant risk 

20 reduction; 

21 (C) be technologically achievable and read22 ily implementable; 

23 (D) take into consideration safety, energy, 

24 and other relevant factors; 


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1 (E) include an assessment of effectiveness 

2 and cost; and 

3 (F) be based on available research and ex4 pertise. 

5 (3) CONCENTRATION LIMITS.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Each guideline pub7 lished under this subsection shall, upon the Ad8 ministrator making a determination that suffi9 cient scientific evidence exists, include a rec10 ommended health-based limit on concentration 

11 levels of indoor contaminants of concern. 

12 (B) BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE; LOWEST

13 LEVEL OF EXPOSURE.—A limit under subpara14 graph (A)— 

15 (i) shall be based on the best available 

16 science; and 

17 (ii) may include a range that in18 cludes— 

19 (I) a concentration level at which 

20 a healthy adult should take action to 

21 reduce exposure; and 

22 (II) a concentration level at 

23 which there is evidence of adverse 

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1 dren, pregnant women, workers, and 

2 the elderly. 

3 (C) INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.—If the Ad4 ministrator determines insufficient evidence ex5 ists to set a health-based concentration limit for 

6 an indoor contaminant of concern listed under 

7 subsection (a), the Administrator shall publish 

8 a report not later than 1 year after making 

9 such determination, which shall identify— 

10 (i) studies and other activities to be 

11 taken to develop the evidence necessary to 

12 set a health-based concentration limit; and 

13 (ii) resources necessary to carry out 

14 activities under clause (i). 

15 (D) INTERIM GUIDELINES.—While the Ad16 ministrator develops sufficient scientific evi17 dence to set a recommended health-based con18 centration limit for an indoor contaminant of 

19 concern under subparagraph (A), the Adminis20 trator shall publish interim guidelines, which 

21 shall include best practices to reduce exposure 

22 to such indoor contaminant of concern. 

23 (d) REVIEW AND REVISION.—Not less than every five 

24 years, the Administrator shall review and, as necessary, 

25 revise— 


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1 (1) the list of indoor contaminants of concern 

2 under subsection (a); and 

3 (2) the guidelines published under subsection 

4 (c). 

5 (e) CONSULTATION.—In developing, reviewing, and 

6 revising the guidelines published under subsection (c), the 

7 Administrator shall consult with organizations and indi8 viduals having demonstrated expertise in indoor air qual9 ity, public health, and building systems. 

10 (f) CONSISTENCY WITH INDOOR AIR REGULATIONS

11 OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

12 (1) LABOR.— 

13 (A) CONSISTENCY WITH CERTAIN REGULA14 TIONS.—The Administrator shall, after con15 sultation with the Secretary of Labor, ensure 

16 that the guidelines published under subsection 

17 (c) are consistent with any Federal workplace 

18 regulations addressing indoor air quality risks. 

19 (B) ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY ACTIONS.— 

20 Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the guide21 lines published under subsection (c) may rec22 ommend additional voluntary actions to protect 

23 persons other than workers covered by such 

24 guidelines from indoor contaminants of concern 

25 listed under subsection (a). 


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1 (2) ENERGY.—The Administrator shall, after 

2 consultation with the Secretary of Energy, ensure 

3 that the guidelines published under subsection (c) 

4 are consistent with applicable energy conservation 

5 and efficiency statutes and regulations administered 

6 by the Secretary. 

7 SEC. 5. INDOOR AIR QUALITY INDEX. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall seek to 

9 enter, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

10 of this Act, into an agreement with the National Academy 

11 of Sciences under which the Academy agrees to conduct 

12 a study to assess the feasibility of developing a science13 based indoor air quality index aimed at informing action 

14 for the protection of public health. 

15 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after entering 

16 into an agreement with the Administrator under sub17 section (a), the Academy shall submit to the Congress and 

18 the Administrator a report, which shall— 

19 (1) make recommendations to support the de20 velopment of an indoor air quality index while ensur21 ing that such proposed index— 

22 (A) communicates to the public in clear 

23 and simple terms the level of concern and de24 scription of indoor air quality; 


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1 (B) considers health risks for certain sen2 sitive groups of people; 

3 (C) addresses the feasibility of assessing 

4 indoor air quality through low-cost, real-time 

5 sensors and monitoring equipment; and 

6 (D) allows for updates to account for de7 velopments in science and harmonization with 

8 indoor air quality guidelines developed under 

9 section 4; 

10 (2) proposes methodologies, inputs, measure11 ments, techniques, and equations to calculate a 

12 science-based assessment of indoor air quality; and 

13 (3) identifies limitations and challenges to the 

14 development of an indoor air quality index. 

15 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

16 authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000, to remain avail17 able until expended, to carry out this section. 

18 SEC. 6. INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSISTANCE. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may provide 

20 technical assistance and financial assistance, which may 

21 include grants, to State, local, and Tribal governments, 

22 local educational agencies, housing authorities, nonprofit 

23 organizations, and other persons to develop and implement 

24 programs to assess and improve indoor air quality. 


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1 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—Financial assistance awarded 

2 under this section shall be used to support one or more 

3 of the following: 

4 (1) The development and implementation of 

5 educational programs, training and technical assist6 ance programs, assessment and monitoring pro7 grams, benchmarking programs, response programs, 

8 and other activities designed to reduce human expo9 sure to indoor air contaminants. 

10 (2) Mitigation of health risks from indoor air 

11 contaminants due to more frequent extreme weather 

12 events and other consequences of climate change. 

13 (3) Adoption or adaptation by State, local, and 

14 Tribal governments of indoor air quality guidelines 

15 published pursuant to section 4, or development and 

16 adoption of indoor air quality standards based on 

17 such guidelines, including development of assessment 

18 and compliance programs needed to implement such 

19 standards. 

20 (c) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Federal share 

21 of the cost of the activities for which financial assistance 

22 is awarded under this section shall not exceed 75 percent 

23 of the total cost of such activities. 


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1 SEC. 7. HEALTHY BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall provide 

3 for one or more types of voluntary certifications of build4 ings that are built, operated, and maintained to prevent 

5 or minimize indoor air health risks in an exemplary man6 ner. 

7 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—For a building to be certified 

8 under this section, the owner or operator of the building— 

9 (1) shall adhere to applicable guidelines pub10 lished by the Administrator pursuant to section 4; 

11 and 

12 (2) shall develop and maintain an indoor air 

13 quality management plan in accordance with best 

14 practices developed or approved by the Adminis15 trator. 

16 (c) CONSIDERATION.—A certification process under 

17 subsection (a) may recognize actions taken by the owners 

18 and operators of existing buildings to improve indoor air 

19 quality using the most effective source control, air filtra20 tion, ventilation, and other best practices, techniques, and 

21 products. 

22 (d) OPTION FOR THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATION.— 

23 The Administrator may— 

24 (1) carry out a certification process under sub25 section (a) directly; or 


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1 (2) recognize a certification process under sub2 section (a) that is developed and administered 

3 through a third party. 

4 SEC. 8. HEALTHY SCHOOLS. 

5 (a) ASSESSMENT OF SCHOOLS AND COVERED

6 CHILDCARE FACILITIES.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall con8 duct a national assessment of indoor air quality in 

9 buildings used by local educational agencies and cov10 ered childcare facilities. 

11 (2) ASSESSMENT CONTENTS.—The assessment 

12 under this section, including updates thereto— 

13 (A) shall include data and metrics, as de14 termined appropriate by the Administrator, to 

15 track progress in, and challenges to, improving 

16 the indoor air quality in buildings used by local 

17 educational agencies and covered child care fa18 cilities; 

19 (B) shall assess whether buildings used by 

20 local educational agencies and covered childcare 

21 facilities achieve acceptable indoor air quality 

22 by meeting minimum ventilation rate require23 ments and other factors as set forth by widely 

24 recognized best practices and standards, as de25 termined appropriate by the Administrator, 


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1 such as ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1–2022, 

2 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality; 

3 and 

4 (C) may be conducted through a survey, an 

5 onsite representative sampling of buildings (ac6 counting for geography and building size, type, 

7 and age), or other methods or combination of 

8 methods determined appropriate by the Admin9 istrator to accurately assess the condition of 

10 buildings used by local educational agencies and 

11 covered childcare facilities throughout the coun12 try. 

13 (3) ADVISORY GROUP.— 

14 (A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator 

15 shall establish an advisory group to provide 

16 guidance and direction in the development of 

17 the initial national assessment under this sub18 section. 

19 (B) MEMBERS.—The advisory group under 

20 subparagraph (A) shall include representatives 

21 of— 

22 (i) school administrators, teachers, 

23 maintenance staff, and other people work24 ing in buildings described in paragraph 


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1 (1), labor organizations, childcare pro2 viders, and parents and caregivers; and 

3 (ii) other interested parties, including 

4 scientific and technical experts familiar 

5 with indoor air contaminant exposures, ef6 fects, and controls. 

7 (4) INITIAL ASSESSMENT; UPDATES.— 

8 (A) INITIAL ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 

9 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 

10 the Administrator shall conduct the initial na11 tional assessment under paragraph (1). 

12 (B) UPDATES.—Not less than five years 

13 following the completion of the initial national 

14 assessment under subparagraph (A), and each 

15 five years thereafter, the Administrator shall 

16 carry out an update of the previous national as17 sessment under this subsection, accounting 

18 for— 

19 (i) the number of schools certified 

20 pursuant to subsection (c); and 

21 (ii) changes in the guidelines, best 

22 practices, and other support published by 

23 the Administrator to improve indoor air 

24 quality. 


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1 (5) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Upon completing 

2 each national assessment under this subsection, the 

3 Administrator shall— 

4 (A) submit to the Congress a report on the 

5 results of such assessment; and 

6 (B) include in each such report such rec7 ommendations as the Administrator determines 

8 to be appropriate for activities or programs to 

9 reduce and avoid indoor air contaminants in 

10 buildings used by local educational agencies and 

11 covered childcare facilities. 

12 (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SUP13 PORT.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall de15 velop and promote guidance, best practices, technical 

16 assistance, training, outreach, and other support to 

17 improve indoor air quality in buildings used by a 

18 local educational agency or a covered childcare facil19 ity. 

20 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Administrator 

21 shall tailor guidance, best practices, technical assist22 ance, training, outreach, and other support under 

23 paragraph (1) to the needs of— 

24 (A) students; 

25 (B) parents and caregivers; 


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1 (C) educators; 

2 (D) childcare providers; 

3 (E) maintenance staff and other employees 

4 responsible for operating and maintaining build5 ings referred to in paragraph (1); 

6 (F) Indian Tribes; and 

7 (G) low-income and disadvantaged commu8 nities. 

9 (c) HEALTHY SCHOOL CERTIFICATION.—The Ad10 ministrator shall ensure that at least one type of certifi11 cation carried out or recognized pursuant to section 7 is 

12 applicable to buildings used by local educational agencies 

13 and covered childcare facilities. 

14 (d) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—The Adminis15 trator shall coordinate with the Secretary of Education, 

16 the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Labor, and the 

17 heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to ensure that 

18 any Federal assistance made available to local educational 

19 agencies or covered childcare facilities for building con20 struction, alteration, repair, and maintenance is consistent 

21 with any guidance and best practices developed by the Ad22 ministrator under this Act. 

23 SEC. 9. RELATION TO OTHER LAW. 

24 (a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this Act shall 

25 be construed, interpreted, or applied to preempt, displace, 


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1 or supplant any other State or Federal law, whether statu2 tory or common, or any local ordinance. 

3 (b) OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH.—In exer4 cising any authority under this Act, the Administrator 

5 shall not, for purposes of section 4(b)(1) of the Occupa6 tional Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 

7 653(b)(1)), be deemed to be exercising statutory authority 

8 to prescribe or enforce standards or regulations affecting 

9 occupational safety and health. 

10 SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

11 There is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 

12 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out 

13 this Act. 

Æ 


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